Water gauge



Sept. -6, 1932. T. N. THOMSON WATER GAUGE Filed Oct. 29. I 1928.IN'VENTOR ATTORNEY 5 to be trapped so that the water level within-Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES THOMAS N; THOMSON, or nnNriNqroN,nwyoRx;

WATER sermon Application filed October 29,1928." 'Seria1No;'31'-5, 804."

The present invention relates to improvements in water gauges, one obect of the 1nvention being the provision Of a novel form of gauge inwhich a colored liquid is adapted the boiler maybe readily observablethrough the gauge or sight glass of the-present device,

Another'object of this invent-ion is the provision of a novel form ofsight glass supporting member in which is mountedatrap by means of whichthe indicating liquid, preferably a coloredliquid such as an oil, isheldtrapped within the member and the sight-glass so that the levelwithin'the boiler 15 will be readily observable through the sight isreadily interchangeable with the present type of water gauge on'boilersandwhich 1s simple, inexpensive and durable in construction andthoroughly efticientand practical in use. i

\Vith the foregoing and otherobjects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the com hula-U011 andarrangements 'of parts and 1n Cil the general construction hereinafterolescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit'ofth'einvention,

In the drawing 1 Figure 1 is a sectional view through part of theboiler, tank or the like, with the present device attached thereto, thelower supporting member of the present device being shown inverticalsection;

Figure 2 1s a section taken on llne 22 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 1 Figure 4: is asectional view through a modified form of trap chamber with an ordi-=tlie proper indicating level. 3

tion;

Referring to the ,the, numeral 5 nary of gauge it attached thereto ;andI forming amodificationfof the present invendesignatesthe boiler whichis provided with 1 5 two superposednaligned:ports f6 and 7 :to

which are properly attached twor-respective supporting members 8 :and 28ofxthe. present device. As the member 58 is identical in constructionwith the member. 8, a description of H one will suflice for'tbothl Inthe:lower or extreme end of thememberS is; a threaded opening 9 whichreceives a drainingvpetecock 10or asealing plug '10", .asmayzbe,desired,

a threaded Lnipple 11 beingxengag'eablerwith either one of the'openings6'1or7 to attach the same to the boiler. vided, and alined therewith is:an 'interiorly A valve; seat, :12 is prothreaded portion 13 sealedzbyastufling gland '14, whilea threaded portion 15015 a valve 16 is mountedin'the internallythreaded portion 13 so that a stem 16f ot-the valve:maybe operated through a.v handle a .17 to isolate I .the

:memberw8 or 8 from :the boiler;

An apron 18is formed integral withinthe member 8 and forms a trap sothat the colored liquid contained within the member 8 will be preventedfrom enteringszthe boiler through the lowernipple 16, while formed incomniunication with thischamber'ischannel119opening throughanexteriorly. threaded portion 20 of the supporting member. 1- Theportion 20 is provided with anlinternal. shoulder 21 for the receptionthereupon of one end of a sight-glass22, a packing ring23 andra nut 24"being provided, as is nsual,to properlysupport the glass ina'liquid-tightmanner.

' Inpractice, thel-lowercha'mber :8 is filled with the indicating liquidL upitothe base of the sight-glass 22,.thesamebeing' accomplished in anydesired manner but preferably by removal of the *plug'10, the=valves 16being closed so that no water from the 'boiler' can enter thechambersS-S'. The valves 16 are now opened to assume the'position asshown in Figure 1 "and the water within the boiler will then cause theindicating "liquidL to move upwardly in the'sight-glass to assume Wherea colored oil is employed, the same being of less specific gravity thanthe water, the level of the indicating liquid will be slightly above thelevel of the water in the boiler, as clearly indicated in the drawing.WVhen the boiler water line is down near the base of thevsight-glass,the oil level is practically the same as theboiler water level. Thedifferences between the exact water line indications are greater as thewater line ascends, which is desirable in steam boilers.- I

In the construction shown in Figure 4, a member 8 is provided with atrap or apron which divides the member into two chambers and attachedthereto is a lower coupling 26 of a usual water gauge now in common use,a valve 27 being of'the usual constructionand the sight-glass 22 beingmounted in the,

usual manner. 7

- The boiler 5 is usual gauge-mechanism. This particular constructionoperates in a similar manner to the 1 construction before described, butis not asneat in appearance nor. as compact as the constructionillustrated iniFigure 1, it being necessary to add to the upper end ofthe gauge glass a similar member, such as 8, or a coupling of the samehorizontal length, this,

therefore, projecting the glass 22 farther away from the boiler thanwhere the members 8 and 8" are employed.

The member 8 isdisposed in a reverse directionfto the member 8 so thatits trap 18 ,(dotted lines) will act as an air trap to preventtheindicating liquid from entering the boiler throughthe nipple 7,should the boiler water line rise to or above said nipple, but

will permitthe natural movement of the indicating liquid up and downwithin the sightglass.

By the use of an oil or, in fact, any colored liquid that may accomplishthe same result and which is placed in the present device as abovedescribed, the usual dirt from the boiler which tends to soil thesight-glass'so as to prevent the easy reading of the water level isprevented from accumulating, and due to the fact that the indicatingliquid is colored, the same is readily discernible without manipulationof the pet-cock 10, as is usual with the i ft) tion with the two membersand into which the colored liquid rises for observation, a trap in thelower supporting member in line with the sight glass adapted to retainthe colored liquid in the lower member and means on the I indicated ashaving the 'member 8 interposed between it and the in substantially asingle line, and means on the lower member operable to drain the gauge.3. A boiler water gauge including two superposed supporting hollowmembers, a

colored liquid in the lower member, a sight glass supported between andin communicationwith the two members and into which the colored-liquidrises for observation, a trap in the lower supporting member. to retainthe colored liquid in the lower member, a valve in each supportingmember operable tov cut off zcommunication of a boiler therewith andvalve means on the lower member operable to drain the gauge. a

4. A boiler water gauge comprising an up per supporting fitting and alower supporting fitting for a sight member of a water gauge, each ofsaid fittingscomprising an elongated body providing achamber, an apronin each of said chambers and forming a trap therein; the apron in theupper chamber extending upwardly and terminating short of the upper'wall of said chamber, and the apron in the 5. A supporting fittlng fora sight member according to claim 4 having a valve mounted on said bodyand operable to open or close the second mentioned opening.

6. A boiler water gauge comprising similar upper and lower supportingbodies adapted for communication with a boiler, a sight membercommunicating with the bodies, said bodies each having an apronproviding a trap therein, the apron of the upper body extending upwardlyand the apron of the lower body extending downwardly, an indicatingliquid for travel in the gauge in advance of the water trap forobservation in the sight member.

7. A boiler water gauge comprising similar supporting bodies adapted forcommunication with a boiler, a sight member communieating with thebodies, said bodieseach having an apron providing a trap therein, said iaprons extending in opposite directions, an indicating liquid for travelin the gauge in advance of the lowermosttrap for observation in thesight member, each body having an opening in one end thereof, theopening of one of said bodies constituting a filling opening, a closurefor the latter opening, and drain means for the opening in the otherbody.

8, A supporting body of the class described having a body member,connections thereon at an angle to each other having first and secondopenings therethrough for connection with a boiler and sight member,respectively, an apron in the body member forming a trap, saidapronbeing opposite the first opening, a valve mounting portion on the bodyextending from the apron to the Wall opposite the second opening of asize to enable liquid to pass around the same to the other opening, anda valve in said mounting portion operable to cover and uncover the firstopening.

9. In combination with a boiler, a water gauge fittinghaving a trap andan opening between the trap and boiler, a valve within the trap to closesaid opening, there being another opening between the trap and sightglass, said trap having a substantially vertical apron forming atortuous passage from one opening to the other, and a tubular portionmounting said valve with its axis in line with said opening andextending from the apron to a wall of the fitting substantially as shownand described.

10. The combination of two boiler water gauge supporting fittings, asight glass located between said fittings, and a colored liquid in thesight glass, each fitting having two openings one for communication witha boiler and the other with the sight glass, each fitting having a trapapron between the two openings thereof, said aprons having their freeends extending away from each other,

substantially as shown and described.

11. A water gauge for boilers, comprising a hollow body for supportingthe upper end of a water gauge glass and a second hollow body forsupporting the lower end of such glass, an apron in the first named bodyextending upwardly and terminating short of the upper wall of said body,an apron in the second named body extending downwardly and terminatingshort of the lower wall of said body, each of said bodies having on oneside of the apron therein an opening for connection to a boiler and onthe opposite side of such apron an opening for connection to a waterglass, a water glass supported between and in communication with thelast named openings of said bodies, and a colored liquid in said waterglass.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS N. THOMSON.

